Author Topic: Electronics update needed for '91 Essence (Read 180 times)

emjay · « **on:** March 30, 2005, 03:53:58 PM »

I've been reading in some threads a while back about desirable electronics upgrades for older Alembics. I may be bidding on the '91 Essence (SR# 91K64XX) on Ebay; and I'd like to know what I may be in for cost-wise, aside from shipping, if this upgrade is recommended by Alembic. Also what would the upgrade entail, if recommended?

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2005, 05:07:41 AM »

Primarily, electronics upgrades to eliminate noise in older Alembics are for basses with Series Electronics. Other Alembics, such as the Essence, generally do not need such upgrades. There have been a few threads that discussed noise related upgrades for older Spoilers; but I don't recall seeing one about Essence electronics. Some older basses may not have the ferrite bead that the leads from the pickups go through; but the Essence probably does, and if it doesn't, this is a minor thing. From a tone standpoint, the upgrade for an Essence is the addition of a Q switch. This switch cuts off the 8db boost at the frequency set with the low pass filter control. The Q switch addition is a do-it-yourself kit from Alembic that is fairly inexpensive. The Maple '91 that's on Ebay right now already has the Q switch, so I doubt you would need to do any modifications to that bass.

emjay · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2005, 05:59:36 AM »

Thanks, Dave. I think the upgrade I'm thinking of involved a 1 ma. capacitor or resistor or something like that. (Obviously I know zip about electronics). There were pictures posted by the factory with do-it-yourself instructions; but I forget where that thread was, or if it was just regarding Series basses.

effclef · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2005, 06:02:22 AM »

I think that had to do with evening out the volume in the pan control when you go from center to either end. It involved a small number of parts. Ron may have made a PCB for it by now perhaps?

EffClef

emjay · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2005, 07:21:13 AM »

Hi Effclef,
At the risk of sounding ignorant, I have to ask what is a PCB?

george_wright · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2005, 07:27:57 AM »

My guess is that PCB is either a printed circuit board (good) or poly-chlorinated biphenyls (bad) :-).

effclef · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2005, 07:32:38 AM »

Well first off, this seems to apply to Signature electronics, not Essence:

http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/13630.html?1099213302

And MJ, a PCB is a Printed Circuit Board. Basically a rectangle of fiberglass and epoxy, with copper layers on it for connecting the parts you then solder on. It allows you to make complex connections without having to wire each one by hand. Alembic guitars don't have messy wiring harnesses because Ron used PCBs inside the control cavity.

I'm going to bet the eBay Essence won't need an upgrade of any sort. By the way, check the Showcase to see how the body of the Essence changed over the years. (The area between the tailpiece and the straplock was wider in the older ones.)

EffClef

emjay · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2005, 08:01:24 AM »

Hi Effclef (again). My brain is in standby mode today - the acronym threw me off. And George, I'm very familiar with PCB's - I've stored up my share from eating all the fish I caught in the NY bight when I lived in NYC! You've all reassured me that the '91 Essence has up-to-date electronics, and I won't be lacking an upgrade. I'll check out the Showcase, thanks again.
EmJay